Job 32 - Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

Elihu’s Angry Response

¹ So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

² Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite  from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified  himself rather than God.

³ He was also angry at Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him.

⁴ Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he.

⁵ But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry.

⁶ So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied: I am young in years, while you are old; therefore I was timid and afraid to tell  you what I know.

⁷ I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom.

⁸ But it is the spirit in a person – the breath  from the Almighty – that gives anyone understanding.

⁹ It is not only the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge.

¹⁰ Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me. I too will declare what I know.’

¹¹ Look, I waited for your conclusions; I listened to your insights as you sought for words.

¹² I paid close attention to you. Yet no one proved Job wrong; not one of you refuted his arguments.

¹³ So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God deal with him, not man.’

¹⁴ But Job has not directed his argument to me, and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

¹⁵ Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them.

¹⁶ Should I continue to wait now that they are silent, now that they stand there and no longer answer?

¹⁷ I too will answer; yes, I will tell what I know.

¹⁸ For I am full of words, and my spirit  compels me to speak.

¹⁹ My heart  is like bottled-up wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins.

²⁰ I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond.

²¹ I will be partial to no one, and I will not give anyone an undeserved title.

²² For I do not know how to give such titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.